I still vividly remember Claire and Robert Miller, a charming couple from New York, who had booked a tailor-made luxury trip through Switzerland with me. From our very first conversation, I could sense their enthusiasm and anticipation. We had an intense exchange about their wishes, their preferences and the magical places they really wanted to experience in Switzerland. At the top of their list was the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest and most impressive waterfall.

Claire told me that she had seen one of my videos. In it, an excursion boat sailed right into the thundering heart of the Rhine Falls, past the spray, right up to the imposing rock that rises proudly from the raging masses of water. The image of visitors climbing the rock and enjoying the powerful force of nature from up close with a 360° panoramic view had made a deep impression on Claire. “I really want to experience that,” she had said, her eyes shining with anticipation.

This mixture of adventure, nature and the sheer power of the Rhine Falls had triggered a deep fascination in both of them. It was clear that this place would be an unmissable highlight of their trip.

The day everything changed

On the second day of her trip, one of the absolute highlights awaited her: Claire’s long-awaited adventure boat trip to the rock in the middle of the thundering Rhine Falls. Claire told me with shining eyes that she had seen countless videos of the impressive masses of water on YouTube. She was deeply impressed by the raw power of nature revealed in the thundering cascades and could hardly wait to experience this natural spectacle up close. Her anticipation was palpable and although she was a little unsure at first, she was determined to take the boat trip to the famous rock. With my support, she even planned to climb the rock to enjoy the view from the middle of this natural wonder.

Robert was also infected by Claire’s enthusiasm. With a broad grin, he told her about his plan to record an impressive 360° panoramic video at the top of the rock. “It’ll be a real eye-catcher at the golf club,” he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. To protect his valuable camera from the splashing water, he had specially purchased a robust waterproof housing – a purchase he was clearly proud of.

Together, they were looking forward to dedicating a place among their unforgettable experiences to this day.

But on the morning of the second day, everything changed. Claire woke up with a strange feeling of unease. When she pulled back the heavy curtains and looked out of the window, she felt as if a cold chill had gone through her. The sky was overcast with gloomy, heavy clouds and an incessant rain pelted the earth. What had happened?

The weather forecast from the day before had not promised anything good, but rain was not on the cards. These are the increasingly unpredictable whims of nature, a consequence of climate change. Within hours, the world outside had completely changed.

The sweet consolation: a journey into the world of chocolate

Claire and Robert knew that their luxury trip through Switzerland included a bad weather option for every day, a plan B so to speak. This is a quality feature that a luxury trip should actually always fulfill. But when they found out that instead of the planned boat trip to the Rhine Falls, a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate was on the agenda, they couldn’t hide their skepticism.

“Chocolate?” Robert repeated, his brow furrowed. “We had our minds set on adventure and nature.” Claire sighed softly and shrugged her shoulders. “What have we got to lose? It could be quite nice.”

But as soon as they entered the exhibition, their mood changed abruptly. The sight of the imposing, 9-meter-high chocolate fountain immediately captivated them. There was something magical, almost hypnotic, about the golden chocolate ribbon that flowed in an endless stream.

“I would never have thought that something like this even existed,” Claire whispered, her eyes shining as she could hardly escape the sight. Robert stood next to her, silent and amazed. The initial disappointment about the cancelled trip was blown away – replaced by childlike joy and amazement at the chocolate wonderland that awaited them here.

While the rain drummed incessantly against the windows outside, the Millers found themselves in another world – the seductive and magical world of Swiss chocolate. The air was filled with the sweet, warm smell of cocoa, and they listened in fascination as the journey of the cocoa bean began: harvested in tropical regions, carefully processed and finally transformed into the smoothest chocolate that melts on the tongue like a dream.

But the real highlight awaited in the CHOCOLATERIA, where Claire and Robert had the unique opportunity to create their own chocolate under the loving guidance of the experienced Lindt Maîtres Chocolatiers. Claire gave free rein to her creativity and boldly chose exotic spices and crunchy nuts to give her creation an exciting twist. Robert, on the other hand, opted for a classic version – a full-bodied chocolate refined with caramelized hazelnuts that was bursting with flavour.

The two of them worked with concentration and a sparkle in their eyes that was reminiscent of the childlike joy you feel when you create something special. They laughed, tasted and celebrated their sweet works of art.

At the end of the day, as Claire took a bite of her homemade masterpiece, she paused. A gentle smile flitted across her face and her eyes shone with satisfaction. “Of course I would have loved to see the Rhine Falls,” she finally said, her voice full of warmth. “But this – this is an experience I’ll never forget.”

At that moment, it became clear that sometimes it’s the unexpected experiences that leave the biggest impression.

Bad weather program as a quality feature

Not every travel provider offers a well-thought-out bad weather program. The good news? This can help you separate the wheat from the chaff! A bad weather program requires detailed local knowledge, a high degree of flexibility and – most importantly – creativity.

Because a good alternative program is more than just a quick shift to the next indoor area. It shows that the organizer thinks about the quality of the trip for its guests and always strives to get the most out of every situation.

Think of the bad weather program as travel insurance!

At the end of the day, a bad weather program is nothing more than a form of travel insurance.

It protects your planned activities and ensures that your valuable vacation time is not affected by unexpected changes in the weather.

An experienced tour operator offering bad weather programs demonstrates its experience and commitment to providing you with a quality experience – regardless of external circumstances.